Notes on Sentence Structure and Variety

An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

A dependent clause CANNOT stand alone as a sentence.

Fragment is an incomplete sentence and is missing a subject or predicate.

A Run-On is two sentences put together with no punctuation

A Comma Splice is two sentences put together with a comma.

To fix a Run-On or Comma Splice: Add a comma and a conjunction Add a period and capitalize the next word. Add a semi colon. Add a semi colon and conjunctive adverb.

Adverb Clauses Remember that adverb clauses are dependent clauses that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. In other words, adverb clauses act just like single-word adverbs or adverb phrases! Like an adverb, the clause also answers the questions when, where, why, how, or to what degree. NOTES: Adverb clauses are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions after, although, as as if, as long as, as much as, because, before, even, even though, if, how, in order that, once, provided (that), since, than, so that, that, unless, until, where, why, while, though, when. Because it was raining, we stayed inside. Before the game was over, we got crushed.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES Remember that adjective clauses are also called relative clauses. These clauses do what single- word adjectives or adjectives phrases do: they modify nouns or pronouns. NOTES: Adjective clauses are introduced by the relative pronouns that, who, whom, whose, which The student, who did his homework, got an A. The cat, that was hiding in the tree, never came down.

Compound Sentence

Two sentences joined together with a comma and conjunction For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet or two sentences joined together with a semicolon or two sentences joined together with a semi colon and a conjunctive adverb. The stars look gorgeous tonight; however, it might rain. The cat is sleeping on the couch, and the dog is curled up on the floor. The T.V. was on all night; it cast a glow on the walls. Conjunctive Adverbs:

Accordingly Also Anyway Besides Consequently Finally For Example For Instance Further Furthermore Hence However Incidentally Indeed In Fact Instead Likewise Meanwhile Moreover Namely Now Of Course On the Contrary Otherwise

Compound-Complex Sentence A compound sentence and a dependent clause. The stars which twinkle in the sky look gorgeous tonight; however, it might rain. The cat is sleeping on the couch, and the dog is curled up on the floor because he is not allowed on the furniture.

Adverb Phrase An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb and can go at the beginning of the sentence! Common Prepositions: across, after, along, around, as, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, during, except, from, in, inside, into, near, on, onto, off, outside, over, past, since, through, throughout, to, toward, under, underneath, until, up, upon, with, within, without, according to, as of, aside from, because of, in front of, in place of, in spite of, instead of, next to, out of, prior to, in addition to, After dinner, I will go running. With all of my energy, I ran home.

Adjective Phrases An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that modifies as noun. The boat in the water is slowly floating away. The store across the street is going out of business.

Participle Participle: A verb that functions as an adjective. EX. A moving van EX. The frightening possibility EX. The singing children. EX. The falling building. EX. The spinning top. Participle Phrase: A participle or verb phrase acting as an adjective and any modifiers. EX. Barking loudly, the dog approached. EX. The ducks swimming in the lake were young. EX. Startled by the noise, the kids cried. EX. The student listening to music couldn’t hear.

Appositives and Appositive Phrases Appositive is a noun or phrase that is placed next to a subject to give more information about it. My sister plays the cornet, a wind instrument. Voyager I photographed Jupiter, our largest planet, in 1979. Juneau, the capital of Alaska, has a deep harbor. Gerund A gerund is a verb that ends in ING and is used as a noun. Gerund phrase is a gerund and its modifiers. Like nouns, gerunds can act as subjects. Running across the yard tired out the puppy. Whispering in class is disruptive. Cooking in my mom’s kitchen is a memory I have always cherished. Dreaming is a common experience for people. Cooking is exciting.

Infinitives An infinitive is a verb that usually begins with to. It is used as a noun at the beginning of the sentence and this is how we will use it for sentence variety. An infinitive is TO plus a VERB FORM To buy the stereo would be a mistake. To give something back to society is important.

Opening Sentences with One Word Modifiers: Adjectives or Adverbs Another way to incorporate sentence variety is to use one word modifiers like adjectives and adverbs. Adverbs: Slowly, the cat crept on the unsuspecting victim. Sadly, the game will be postponed. Adjectives: Exhausted, I collapsed on the sofa after my run. Frightened, I ran into my room to avoid the monster accidentally afterwards almost gladly gracefully greedily reluctantly repeatedly always angrily annually faithfully happily hastily honestly rightfully roughly rudely anxiously awkwardly badly hourly hungrily innocently sadly safely selfishly blindly boastfully boldly inquisitively joyously justly seriously shakily sharply bravely briefly brightly regularly lazily loosely loudly shrilly shyly silently busily calmly carefully madly merrily monthly sleepily slowly smoothly carelessly cautiously cheerfully mysteriously nearly neatly softly solemnly speedily clearly correctly courageously nervously noisily obediently stealthily sternly successfully cruelly daily defiantly deliberately obnoxiously only painfully suddenly suspiciously swiftly doubtfully easily elegantly perfectly politely poorly tenderly tensely thoughtfully enormously enthusiastically powerfully promptly tightly truthfully weakly equally eventually exactly quickly quietly rapidly rarely unexpectedly wildly